News / National
Kereke challenges parly expulsion
09 Oct 2013 at 17:11hrs | Views
Bikita West legislator, Dr Munyaradzi Kereke, who was fired from Zanu-PF, has filed a constitutional application challenging his expulsion from the National Assembly.
In his application, Dr Kereke said he is making the application in terms of Section 85 of the constitution of Zimbabwe, saying his expulsion is a violation of his political rights and the rights of the Bikita electorate.
Dr Kereke is challenging his expulsion under section 129 (1) (k) of the constitution which provides for the expulsion of a party member by a political party from the National Assembly.
Dr Kereke is arguing that he was no longer a member of Zanu-PF on the date of election.
He said the party had expelled him and did not get any support from the party to conduct his campaign, adding that Zanu-PF supported Elias Musakwa who lost the election.
He maintained that he stood as an independent candidate and stated that he used his own coffers to fund his campaign.
In this application, the Speaker of the National Assembly was named as the first respondent while Zanu-PF is the second respondent and the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is the third respondent in this matter.
Throughout his submissions, Dr Kereke indicated that he likes Zanu-PF although the party expelled him.
The applicant is seeking the court to declare that the decision to invoke the provisions of section 129 (1) (k) be considered a breach of his right to stand for election and holding of a public office.
He further stated that his expulsion will be a denial to people of Bikita West of their right to freely choose a representative of their choice.
He is also seeking the court to declare the decision as a breach of his right to the equal protection and benefit of the law.
Dr Kereke attached a letter he wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly on the 24th of September in which he was pleading with him to consider his side of the story.
In the letter, he mentioned that the fact that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to remove the Zanu-PF logo symbol from his ballot papers was a logistical reason which should not be taken on the Bikita West electorate.
In his application, Dr Kereke said he is making the application in terms of Section 85 of the constitution of Zimbabwe, saying his expulsion is a violation of his political rights and the rights of the Bikita electorate.
Dr Kereke is challenging his expulsion under section 129 (1) (k) of the constitution which provides for the expulsion of a party member by a political party from the National Assembly.
Dr Kereke is arguing that he was no longer a member of Zanu-PF on the date of election.
He said the party had expelled him and did not get any support from the party to conduct his campaign, adding that Zanu-PF supported Elias Musakwa who lost the election.
He maintained that he stood as an independent candidate and stated that he used his own coffers to fund his campaign.
Throughout his submissions, Dr Kereke indicated that he likes Zanu-PF although the party expelled him.
The applicant is seeking the court to declare that the decision to invoke the provisions of section 129 (1) (k) be considered a breach of his right to stand for election and holding of a public office.
He further stated that his expulsion will be a denial to people of Bikita West of their right to freely choose a representative of their choice.
He is also seeking the court to declare the decision as a breach of his right to the equal protection and benefit of the law.
Dr Kereke attached a letter he wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly on the 24th of September in which he was pleading with him to consider his side of the story.
In the letter, he mentioned that the fact that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to remove the Zanu-PF logo symbol from his ballot papers was a logistical reason which should not be taken on the Bikita West electorate.
Source - zbc
